The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-07-06
REUNION AT GETTYSBURG.
The First Campfire Ever Held Between
the Blue and Gray.

are decorated with flags, evergreens and
bunting. The streets are brilliantly illum.
mated and thronged with thousands oil
people. During the day visitors arrived on
all trains, and when the Philadelphia Bril-
gade arrived at O'Clock with 1000 more,
the hotels and boarding houses oYerfowed
and quarters were as hard to find as they
were twenty-four years ago tonight. at S
o'clock Mrs. General Pickett arrived, &C.
companied by her son, and was immediately
driven to the Springs Hotel. After secur.
ing quarters the Philadelphia brigade
escorted by the Grand Army band of Get
tysburg, marched to the Harrisburg depot
to receive their guests. At S:35 a
ringing cheer from the Philadelphia
brigade, which was promptly and heartily
answered by the well-known rebel veil
announced that the visitors had arrived
and 200 OF Pickett's veterans marched out
and surrendered themselves to the hospi-
talities of their friends. As the process
sion moved along Chambersburg street to
the public square cheers and applause
greeted it at everystep. The Confederates,
who were armed with rockets, discharged
them as they marched along, proudly bear
ing the stars and stripes in their midst,
the only flag in line, and responded heart
lily to the greetings with their peculia
battle-yell, 81 well known here, to the
great delight of the assembled crowds.
When the procession reached Center
Square, the Union and Confederate lines
were drawn up facing each other. The
Confederstes stepped forward, saying:
Here we are once more together" Let
Us shake hands" Let rs trade coffee"
The bands played "Way Down South in
Dixie" Fireworks lit up the sky, and all
the people cheered.
At 9:35 the procession moved to the
courthouse, where a campfire was held.
The doors were thrown open, and the band
entered it, followedlby Pickett's men. They
proceeded to the front and seated them
selves in chairs In a few minutes the
building was filed to overlooking, and
standing room could not be obtained.
When all was ready, General Burns as
sisted Mrs. General Pickett to the stand,
and amid tremendous cheers which shook
the building, introduced her and her son
to the audience. She was visibly affected
and with difficulty restrained the tears.
Whenever General Pickett's name was
mentioned the cheering was tremendous.
When Colonel Aylette, becoming excited
and branching off somewhat from his pre-.
pared Grafton, mentioned the flag OF the
Union, the whole audience arose and
shouted itself hoarse.
AS soon as the Presidents letter was read
General Burns jumped up aud proposed
three cheers for the President of the
United States. These were given standing
and with telling effect.
After the reading of General Sherman's
letter, W. S. Slocum arose and presented
Burgess Upton, who, in a very few words,
welcomed them and extended the hos
FATALITIES OF the place.
Colonel Banes then asked that the town
people and Philadelphia Brigade with
draw, and they then would assign Picketts
men TO their quarters.
Thus the first campfire ever held be-
tween the blue and the gray was over.
At 9 o'clock the meeting was called to
order by John W. Frazier, who said:
LADIES, COMRADES AND FRIENDs-The
high honor oil calling this meeting to
order has been assigned to me. This is, as
you all know, the first fraternal meeting
of the blue and the gray that has taken
place on these historic grounds, and stand
ing beside the last resting place OF
the bonored dead who here gave the last
full measure Of their devotion TO the
Union, / say to you thst these fraternal
meetings OF the blue and gray will do more
to create and maintain a sincere
and lasting fellowship among the
people of the whole nation than
anything else that has taken place
since the war for the preservation
CT the Union ended, and | hope to see
them, as l believe they will be, held all
burg. | now have the pleasure of present
ing Comrade w. s. Stockton as the pre-
siding officer of this meeting, with the
statement that to him, more than to any
other, is due the credit of bringing it
about
Mr.. Stockton, upon assuming the chair
manship, said that be thanked mis- Comrades
for the honor conferred upon him, and he
would take occasion simply TO remark
that he believed what was do1e and
said here upon this fraternal gather
ing of the blue and gray would mark a
new and gratifying era In our country s
history. As presiding officer it was a
pleasant duty to present Colonel Charles
n. Bsnes, president of the Philadelphia
soldiers welcome to foes in war, but warm,
devoted and lasting friends in peace.
Colonel Banes stepped forward and said:
"Fellow citizens and members of Pick
ett's Division of the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia-An honorable and pleasing duty
has been assigned to me by the Philadsl-
phia Brigade of the Second Division, Sec.
G GRf o0 Veteran Army brigade Of the pSI1%sS
OF the Slxty.nintb, Seventy. first,
Seventy-second and One Hundred and
Sixth regiments, Pennsylvania volunteers,
upon more than one occasion duri1g the
dark hours of the republic encountered
your people in active warfare, and il fell
to our lot to meet in hostile array and dead
~ conflict in what may be traly called the
crisis of the battle of Gettysburg, within
the sight OF the masses of both armies on
that memorable afternoon of July g. 1868.
The old issues are dead and new ones con
front us. We, who have fought as the blue
and the gray, can discuss the past, IL need
in the light OF the present, as travellers who
after perilous journeys and conflicts by the
way, sit down on the mountain top ard
review the scenes through which they have
passed, and the dangers of the road ovel
which they have journeyed.
"We welcome you to this historic field
and its memories with true soldierly greet
ing. In the performance of this duty We
would fail TO honorably acquit ourselves
did we not announce TO you that the spon'
taneous movement OF the Philadelphia
Brigade in the tender of this reception ha,
the cordial and practical support of oul
citizens of all classes and pursuits Of life
And now IL remains for me to say to you
the men of Picketts' Division, by authority
of this brigade association and its friends
that we desire that you will honor Us, dur
ing your stay at Gettysburg. by becoming
our guests. We velcome you because you
were brave soldiers In war; We welcome
you because you are true citizens IL
peace, and may our stay here be ont
Of pleasure to each Of, Us and of fraterna
greeting that shall guide Us to higher re
solves for the perpetuity Of the Constit q